“I’m already here.” He flips his hand at me. Bear doesn’t like to waste time. If he’s made the trip out to the boat, he’s going to make the use of his time regardless of my attitude. “Might as well get the bait on board too.” Without missing a beat, he reaches outside the cabin for the bait buckets and then returns. “You’re not busy, are you?”
I run my hand through my wet hair. “Knock it off.”
He shrugs one shoulder, still smiling. “I wouldn’t want to interrupt you if you’re busy.”
Fuck. I can’t leave her in the bathroom. I groan and reach for the door. Might as well get this over with. I point in my brother’s face. “Keep your mouth shut.”
Journey is standing in the corner with her arms crossed over her chest, frowning at me. I guess I can’t blame her for being upset with me. “What the hell?” Surprise registers in her face when she notices Bear. “Oh, uh, hey.”
Hey? I almost laugh at her nonchalant attitude. She’s half-naked in front of my brother, her nipples visible through her T-shirt she managed to get on. I hand her bra to her.
Bear grins. “Hey, there.” He sets the buckets down and leans against the stove behind him. “Am I interrupting?”
“No,” I’m quick to say and yank Journey toward the door. “She fell in the water and was just leaving.” I scramble around to gather her jeans and shoes. “You need to go. We got work to do.”
“Can I at least get dressed?”
“No, your clothes are wet.” I push my jacket and a blanket at her. “Wear this.”
Total douche move kicking her out while she’s wearing a T-shirt and nothing else, but it’s better than explaining to Bear who she is and risk her knowing any more than she needs to. I can’t risk it.
Judging by her glare, she’s not too happy with me, or the fact that I hand her wet clothes to her and all but shove her off the boat. I hate that I’m forcing her off the boat, but it’s easier this way.
“Wow. So fucking kind of you,” she snaps and stomps off the boat.
Bear fucking giggles. The only man I know that sounds like a girl when he laughs.
I slam my hand into his shoulder. “Shut the fuck up.”
He laughs. “I didn’t say anything.”
“You didn’t have to. Your stupid grin says too much.”
“My stupid grin gets me pussy.” Bear nods to my crossed arms. “And I’m guessing your arrogance got you some.” I don’t say anything, so he feels the need to add, “I don’t know why you’re complaining.”
He has no idea. I motion toward the dock behind me. “I’m gonna go see Atlas before he goes to bed.”
“Uh-huh.” He’s still fucking smiling. “Sure you are.”
“I’ll be back in a few hours,” I add, warning him to behave. Bear is one hell of a fisherman, but he’s a fucking child. He once sank a thirty-foot boat. A story for another day, but never trust him alone.
The grin is still there. “Can’t wait.”
I have half a mind to take the gaff beside me and smack him upside the head with it. I’ve done that before though, and it never ends well.
Cool air hits me the moment I open the door to the cabin. I stand there for a moment, breathing in and out, trying to make sense of the last few minutes. My eyes land on the docks, and I wonder if she’s made it to the end or not without falling. Everywhere I look, a vast blanket of white hovers over the water. The dock below me, practically invisible. It’s no wonder she fell. I look for her. There’s no way she’s home yet.
Leave her alone. I can tell myself that over and over again, yet I keep finding ways to be near her.
Once off the docks, I spot her up the street, rounding the corner to her house. I jog to catch up with her. She hears my footsteps, glances over her shoulder, and her pace slows. “What do you want?” she asks when I’m next to her.
My teeth slam together. “I’m… sorry about that,” I mumble. I’m not very good at apologizing, especially to someone who I owe so much more than an apology to her. I owe her… I don’t even know what.
She opens her mouth, the wind catching her drying hair, and then closes it. Hesitation digs a line into her forehead. “So why’d you